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from

Woodsmith
MAGAZINE

Table Saw Cabinet

are long, see grain direction in Fig.
5.)
DIVIDERS. Finally, cut the two
dividers (D and E) to a length of
1713/16" and to a width of 231/2", see
Fig. 3. (Note: These dividers are
1
/4" narrower than the other pieces
to allow for a 1/4" back.)

This cabinet is just what Ive always

wanted for my table saw. It adds
weight and stability, it rolls away
for storage, it has a sawdust collection system in the cabinet, and it
turns all the wasted space under
the saw into much-needed storage.
But before getting into the construction of the cabinet, something
should be said about its size. This
cabinet will comfortably support a
Sears 10" table saw or a Delta
(Rockwell) 10" Contractors Saw.
(The overall width of the cabinet is
sized to fit under the saw with
extension wings.)
The height of the cabinet shown
here is 231/2" (with casters). This
puts the working height of both the
Sears and Delta saws at 361/4"
(which is the same as the Sears saw
on a Sears stand, but 2" higher than
the normal Delta setup.)
CUT PIECES TO SIZE
I started work on the cabinet by cutting
the six main pieces (the top/bottom, ends,
and dividers) to final size from a 4x8 sheet
of 3/4" birch plywood. (Birch is a little more
expensive than CDX fir plywood, but the
final appearance is worth it.)

RABBETS AND DADOES

TOP/BOTTOM. First, cut the top/bottom

pieces (A) to a length of 39" and to a width
of 233/4", see Fig. 1.
ENDS. Next cut two end pieces (B and C)
to a length of 20" and to the same width as
the top/bottom pieces (233/4"), see Fig. 2.
(Note: These pieces are wider than they

MATERIALS LIST
231/2"h

Overall Dimensions:
A Top/Bottom (2)
B Left End (1)
C Right End (1)
D Left Divider (1)
E Right Divider (1)
F Drawer Runners (16)
G Separators (2)
H Shelf Cleats (4)
I Back Panel (1)
J Shelves (2)
K Sm. Drwr. Fronts (4)
L Lrg. Drwr. Fronts (4)
M Sm. Drwr. Sides (8)
N Lrg. Drwr. Sides (8)
O Sm. Drwr. Backs (4)
P Lrg. Drwr. Backs (4)
Q Drawer Bottoms (8)
R Catcher Fr/Back (2)
S Catcher Sides (2)
T Catcher Runners (2)
U Catcher Cleats (2)
V Door Stiles (2)
W Door Rails (2)
X Door Panel (1)
Y Caster Pads (4)

Plans

NOW

CUTTING DIAGRAM
241/4"d

x 40"w x
ply. x 233/4 - 39
3/4" ply. x 233/4 - 20
3/4" ply. x 233/4 - 20
3/4" ply. x 231/2 - 1713/16
3/4" ply. x 231/2 - 1713/16
1/2 x 3/4 - 13
3/4" ply. x 121/2 - 175/16
13/16 x 1 - 175/16
1/4" Mas. x 1713/16 - 39
3/4" ply. x 73/4 - 121/2
13/16 x 31/4 - 117/8
13/16 x 51/4 - 117/8
1/2 x 31/4 - 133/4
1/2 x 51/4 - 133/4
1/2 x 23/4 - 111/4
1/2 x 43/4 - 111/4
1/4 Mas. x 111/4 - 13
13/16 x 2 - 103/8
13/16 x 2 - 181/8
1/4" Mas. x 11/4 - 185/8
13/16 x 11/4 - 21
1/2 x 11/4 - 173/16
1/2 x 11/4 - 107/8
1/8" peg. x 107/8 - 153/16
3/4" ply. x 4 - 5
3/4"

Once the six major pieces were

cut to size, I laid out the positions
of the rabbets and dadoes used to
join them together.
Its important to lay out these
cuts so there will be mirrored sets.
To keep things straight, I marked
the front and back edges of each
piece, and also the face that will
have all the cuts, see Fig. 5.
BACK RABBETS. Start by laying
out and cutting rabbets for the 1/4"
Masonite back. These rabbets are
on the inside back edge of the top/bottom
pieces (A) and the inside back edge of both
ends (B and C), see Back Rabbet Detail in
Fig. 4.
Note: To keep things simple, all of the
rabbets, dadoes, and grooves for the basic
cabinet are cut to a common depth of 1/4",
only the width varies.

!/2 x 3!/2 - 72
M
M
!/2 x 3!/2 - 72
M
M
!/2 x 5!/2 - 72
N

!#/16 x 3!/2 - 72
K
K
!#/16 x 5!/2 - 72

!#/16 x 5!/2 - 72
S
R

U
H

!/2 x 5!/2 - 72
N

P
NOTE: CUT !/4-THICK TRIM
STRIPS FROM WASTE

!/2 x 5!/2 - 72
P

!/2 x 5!/2 - 48
F

ALSO REQUIRES
!/8 PEGBOARD 12 x 24

V
F

#/4 PLYWOOD 48 x 96

!/4 MASONITE 48 x 48
G

D
G
Q

J
Y

page 1

Q
T

1998, August Home Publishing Co.

BOTTOM RABBETS. Next, lay out and cut

the rabbets to join the bottom to the ends.
These rabbets are on the bottom edge of
both end pieces (B and C), see Bottom
Rabbet Detail in Fig. 4.
Note: The width of these rabbets should
equal the actual thickness of the plywood
which is usually a little shy of 3/4" for hardwood plywood. But to keep things simple,
all measurements are shown as 3/4".
TOP DADO. Now lay out the position of
the dadoes that are used to join the top (A)
to the ends (B and C). To determine the
location of these dadoes I wanted to plan
ahead to allow enough space for the drawers below it. This requires an overall opening of 175/16" for two 31/4"-high drawers and
two 51/4"-high drawers with a 1/16" gap
between each drawer and the cabinet.
When I had this measurement I worked
from the bottom edge up - allowing 3/4" for
the bottom rabbet (refer to Fig. 2), plus
175/16" for the drawers, plus 3/4" for the thickness of the top (A). This left 13/16" as the
measurement from the top edge to the top
of the dado, see Fig. 2. (This position creates a raised edge to keep things from sliding off the cabinet, refer to photo.)
DRAWER RUNNER DADOES. After the top
dadoes are cut, there are four more dadoes
for the drawer runners in the end pieces (B
and C) and dividers (D and E), see Figs. 2
and 3. However, the problem with laying
out these cuts is that youre not working
with the same measurements on the ends
as on the dividers. The ends have to accommodate the top and raised edge that
extends above the top.
To lay out the first (top) runner dado on
the ends (B and C), measure down 3" from
the top edge. Then continue to work your
way down laying out the remaining dadoes
as shown in Fig. 2.
Note: All of the measurements for the
positions of the dadoes (shown in Figs. 2
and 3) are taken from the top edge of the
workpiece to the top edge of the dado. This
is the same measurement needed when setting up the saw - its the measurement from
the fence to the dado blade.
RUNNER DADOES ON DIVIDERS. The top
runner dado on the dividers (D and E) is
only 15/16" from the top edge, see Fig. 3.
Note: For ease of construction on a table
saw, weve shown all of the runner dadoes
going all the way to the back of the cabinet.
But the drawers only run part of the way
back. To get a slightly neater appearance,
you could use a router and stop the dadoes
14" from the front edge.
SEPARATOR GROOVES. After the runner
dadoes are cut, lay out and cut the vertical
grooves for the separators (G) that divide
the drawer compartments from the shelf
compartments, refer to Figs. 7 and 8 on
page 3. Locate these grooves 14" from the
front edge of the ends and dividers, see
Figs. 2 and 3.

Plans

NOW

FIGURE 1

!/4 x !/4
BACK RABBET
(SEE FIG. 4)
23#/4

A
TOP/BOTTOM

!/4 x #/4
DIVIDER DADO
(SEE FIG. 4)

FRONT
EDGE
12!/4

12!/4
39

FIGURE 2

1#/16

!/4 x #/4 SEPARATOR

GROOVE (SEE FIG. 4)

ENDS

FIGURE 4

!/4 x !/4
BACK
RABBET
(SEE FIG. 4)

3
6%/16
9%/8

BACK
RABBET
DETAIL

!/4

20

!/4

14!%/16

!/4 x #/4
BOTTOM
RABBET
(SEE FIG. 4)

FRONT
EDGE
!/4 x #/4
DADO
(SEE FIG. 4)
FIGURE 3

14

BOTTOM
RABBET
DETAIL

23#/4

1%/16

#/4

!/4 x #/4 SEPARATOR

GROOVE (SEE FIG. 4)

DIVIDERS

!/4

4%/8
7!%/16

!/4 x #/4
DADO
(SEE FIG. 4)

13!/4

TYPICAL
DADO/
GROOVE
DETAIL

17!#/16

#/4

!/4

14

FRONT
EDGE

23!/2
FIGURE 5

A
TOP

B
LEFT
END

D
LEFT
DIVIDER

E
RIGHT
DIVIDER

C
RIGHT
END

A
BOTTOM

page 2

1998, August Home Publishing Co.

FIGURE 6
13

DETAIL

!/2

F
DRAWER
RUNNER

DRAWER RUNNERS
!/16
CHAMFER

#/4

14
NOTE:
NO RUNNER
IN TOP DADO

FIGURE 7

NOTE:
ALIGN DRAWER RUNNER
FLUSH WITH FRONT EDGE

BOTTOM
RABBET

FRONT
EDGE
CUT FROM
4/4 STOCK

#/4 PLYWOOD

SEPARATORS AND SHELF CLEATS

TOP VIEW
2

!/4 DIA. THROUGH

HOLES FOR
SHELF SUPPORTS

H
SHELF
SHELF
SUPPORT
COMPARTCLEATS
MENT
(FOUR NEEDED)

3!/2

DRAWER
COMPARTMENT

3!/2
RIGHT
DIVIDER

G
SEPARATORS
(TWO NEEDED)

17%/16

#/16 DIA.
COUNTERSUNK
SHANK HOLES
FOR MOUNTING
CLEATS

3!/2

3!/2
#/4

12!/2

FIGURE 8

BACK
RABBET

FRONT
EDGE

LEFT
DIVIDER

SHELF
SUPPORT
CLEATS

SEPARATOR

#/4
1

A
TOP

C
RIGHT
END

D
LEFT
DIVIDER

G
SEPARATOR

After the rabbets, dadoes, and grooves are

cut in the six main pieces, work can begin
on the drawer runners.
Start by cutting 16 runners (F) 1/2"-thick
and to width to match the dadoes, see Fig.
6. To help guide the drawers into place, I
sanded a slight chamfer on the front corner
of each runner, see Detail in Fig. 6.
After the runners are cut to size, glue
them in so the front of each runner is flush
with the front edge of the end or divider.
Theres a separate compartment in the back
of the cabinet that has space for shelves, see
Top View in Fig. 7. The shelves are held up
with L-shaped pin-style shelf supports, see
Detail in Fig. 12.
SEPARATORS. To hold the shelf supports
(and also give the cabinet rigidity), I cut 3/4"
plywood separators (G) to fit between the
ends and dividers, see Figs. 7 and 8.
SHELF SUPPORT CLEATS. Then to hold the
shelf supports at the back of the cabinet, cut
four cleats (H) from 4/4 stock (13/16" actual
thickness) to a width of 1" and the same
length as the separators, see Fig. 7.
SUPPORT HOLES. After the separators
and cleats are cut to size, drill 1/4" holes for
the pin-style shelf supports, see Fig. 7. To
keep the holes aligned in all the pieces, I laid
out the holes centered on one of the cleats
and then used that cleat as a drilling guide
for the other cleats and separators. (Note:
Since the separators fit into 1/4"-deep
grooves, center the holes in the separators
3
/4" in from the edges.)
To make the pieces completely interchangeable (which makes assembly easier), I drilled the holes completely through
the cleats and separators and kept the holes
a uniform distance from each end.
MOUNTING HOLES. Next, to mount the
cleats to the cabinet, drill three countersunk holes in each cleat, see Fig. 7.
ASSEMBLY

H
SHELF
SUPPORT
CLEATS

#8 x 1!/2 Fh
WOODSCREW

FIGURE 9

A
BOTTOM

BACK VIEW

FIGURE 10
END

H
SHELF
SUPPORT
CLEAT

POSITION
CLEAT FLUSH
WITH INSIDE
EDGE OF
RABBETS

#8 x 1!/2 Fh
WOODSCREW

Plans

E
RIGHT
DIVIDER

B
LEFT END

NOW

SCREW
DETAIL

CLEAT
COUNTERBORE
FOR !/2 DIA.
PLUG

BOTTOM

DRILL #/32 PILOT HOLE

FOR #8 x 1!/2
Fh WOODSCREW

DRILL #/16 DIA.

SHANK HOLE

page 3

Once the holes are drilled, assembly can

begin. To check that everything fits as it
should, I started by dry assembling the
entire cabinet with screws (counterboring
the screw holes, see Screw Detail in Fig.
10.) Once I was sure the cabinet was square,
I took out the screws and then applied glue
before screwing it back together.
The procedure I used for assembly was
to start by attaching the dividers (D and E)
to the top and bottom aligning the front
edges, see Fig. 8. Next, fit the separators
(G) into the grooves in the dividers and
glue and screw from the inside. Then attach
the ends (B and C) to the top, bottom, and
dividers. And finally, glue and screw in the
shelf support cleats (H), see Fig. 9.
Now plug all the counterbored screw
holes, see Fig. 10.
1998, August Home Publishing Co.

SHELF COMPARTMENT OPENING

When the basic cabinet is assembled, openings can be cut in the ends so the shelf compartments can be reached from the sides of
the cabinet, refer to Fig. 12. To get a clean
opening in the plywood, theres a nifty trick
using a sabre saw and a router.
Start by standing the cabinet up on end
and lay out the opening with a pencil. (The
opening corresponds to the inside edges of
the cleat, top, bottom and separator.)
Next, drill 3/8" holes at each corner about
1
/8" inside the penciled outline, see Fig. 11.
Then rough cut the opening with a sabre
saw staying about 1/8" inside the outline,
see Sabre Saw Detail in Fig. 11.
Now comes the trick. To clean up the
last 1/8", I used a flush trim router bit with
a ball bearing pilot. The pilot runs against
the inside of the cleat, top, bottom, and separator while the cutter trims up the last
1
/8" of plywood, see Router Detail in Fig.
11.
BACK PANEL. Next, cut the back panel (I)
from a piece of 1/4" Masonite to fit the back
opening created by the rabbets, and nail it
to the back edges of the dividers, see Fig.
12.
SHELVES. Then cut the shelves (J) from
3
/4" plywood to fit in the shelf compartments, see Fig. 12.
TRIM AND FILL
To cover all the plywood edges on the cabinet and shelves, rip some 1/4"-thick trim
strips from 4/4 stock, see Step 1 in Fig. 13.
Then cut them to width to match the thickness of the plywood, Step 2 in Fig. 13.
ADD THE STRIPS. Now glue and nail the
trim strips on with 1" brads and set the
heads, see Fig. 14. (Note: The trim strips
on the back edges of the cabinet hold in the
back panel.) Finally, round over the top
edges with a 1/8" round-over bit.
FILL THE GAPS. After adding the trim
strips, there are a couple gaps on the inside
top of the ends that should be filled. (These
gaps were created when the grooves and
rabbets were cut.) To fill the gaps I cut a
couple pieces of scrap and glued them in
place, see Fig. 14.

FIGURE 11

NOW

SHELF
SUPPORT
HOLE

!/8

FINISHED
OPENING
LINE

ROUTER DETAIL
!/8

SABRE SAW
CUT LINE

FLUSH
TRIM
BIT

SEPARATOR

SHELF
SUPPORT
HOLE

BALL BEARING
PILOT

BOTTOM

FIGURE 12

!/4 THICK
TRIM STRIP

FILLERS
(SEE FIG. 14)

SHELF
J
CUT TO FIT
FROM #/4
PLYWOOD
BACK
PANEL
I

TRIM
STRIP
SHELF

4d
FINISHING
NAIL

BACK VIEW

!/4 THICK
TRIM STRIPS

NOTE: USE THIN PUSH STICK

FIGURE 13
RIP
FENCE
CUT TRIM
STRIPS FROM
4/4 STOCK
!/4

RIP
FENCE
RIP TO WIDTH
TO MATCH
THICKNESS
OF PLYWOOD

PIN STYLE
SHELF SUPPORT
FIGURE 15

BACK
EDGE

CUT OUT
SAWDUST
OPENING

FRONT
EDGE

RIGHT
DIVIDER
1!/2

FIGURE 14

!/8
ROUNDOVER

2!/2

page 4

10

LEFT
DIVIDER

!/4
THICK
TRIM
STRIPS
GLUE AND
NAIL TRIM
STRIPS ON
WITH
1 BRADS

13

1!/2

FILLERS CUT
TO FIT FROM
SCRAP

NOTE:
SET BRADS
AND FILL HOLES

Plans

SEPARATOR

DRILL
#/8 DIA.
CORNER
HOLES

SAWDUST OPENING
Theres one more step to complete the basic
cabinet - cutting the sawdust opening in
the top. This opening allows the dust and
chips to collect in a plastic trash bag mounted inside the cabinet.
Cut a 10" x 13" opening 21/2" from the
back edge of the top and centered between
the dividers (D and E), see Fig. 15. (Note:
This opening will fit both the 10" Sears and
Delta/Rockwell saws. For other saws,
check the opening on the saw and cut a corresponding opening in the cabinet.)

SABRE SAW DETAIL

LEFT
END

BACK
PANEL
I

TOP VIEW

1998, August Home Publishing Co.

FIGURE 16

THE DRAWERS

#/16

JOINT DETAIL

DRAWER CONSTRUCTION
11!/4

TACK !/4 MASONITE

BOTTOM TO BACK
WITH BRADS

#/8 %/8

!/2 STOCK

SIDE

BACK

BACK

SIDE

Q
BOTTOM
!/4 MASONITE

!/2

FRONT

11&/8

!/2
STOCK

CENTER PULL 1%/8

FROM TOP EDGE
OF EACH DRAWER
1&/8

13#/4

DRAWER
RUNNER
GROOVE

SMALL DRAWER
HEIGHT = 3!/4
LARGE DRAWER
HEIGHT = 5!/4

#8 x 1 Fh
WOODSCREW

4/4 STOCK

!/2

FRONT
FIGURE 18

FIGURE 17

1
DRAWER
RUNNER

!#/16
3!/4

!/16 GAPS

!/4

!/4
!/4 ROUNDOVER
AFTER ASSEMBLY
SMALL DRAWER
!/4

3!/4
#/16
1
5!/4

!#/16

LARGE DRAWER
!/4

5!/4

1%/8 TYPICAL

!/4 ROUNDOVER
AFTER ASSEMBLY

!/16 GAPS

!/4

#/16
FIGURE 19

FIGURE 20
SIDE

CUT ALL PIECES

FROM 4/4 STOCK

R
BACK

FRONT

2
10#/8

18!/8

R
FRONT

CORNER
DETAIL

4/4
STOCK

FIGURE 21

#8 x 1!/2 Fh
WOODSCREW

FIGURE 22

!/2

4/4
STOCK

S
SIDE

CHIP CATCHER
CONSTRUCTION

!/4

#8 x 1 Fh
WOODSCREW

T
CHIP
CATCHER
RUNNER
!/4 THICK x 1!/4 WIDE
MASONITE

FIGURE 23
ALIGN WITH
INSIDE EDGE

Plans

NOW

CHIP
CATCHER

SIDE

ROUTER
TABLE
FENCE

CHIP CATCHER

CHIP
CATCHER
ON EDGE

!/4

!/2 CORE
BOX BIT

18%/8

#8 x 1!/2 Fh
WOOD
SCREW

FRONT

page 5

After the cabinet is complete, the eight

drawers can be built to fit the openings.
There are two drawer heights, but theyre
both constructed the same way.
DRAWER FRONTS. Begin by cutting the
fronts (K) for the four small drawers from
4/4 stock to a width of 31/4" and the fronts
(L) for the four large drawers to a width of
51/4", see Fig. 16. To determine the length
of all the fronts, measure the cabinet opening and subtract 1/8" to allow for a 1/16" gap
on each side.
DRAWER SIDES. Next, cut eight small
drawer sides (M) and eight large drawer
sides (N) from 1/2" stock to match the width
of the fronts, and cut them all to a common
length of 133/4", see Fig. 16.
The drawer sides have two grooves. Cut
one groove 13/16" wide on the outside of each
drawer side for the drawer runners to slide
in. Also, cut a 1/4"-wide groove on the inside
of each drawer side and drawer front to
accept the 1/4" bottom, see Fig. 18.
JOINTS. The drawer sides are joined to
the fronts with rabbet joints that are
secured with screws. Cut the rabbets on the
drawer fronts to match the thickness of
the drawer sides (1/2"), see Detail in Fig.
16.
Then to accept the drawer back, cut a
1/2"-wide dado on the inside of the drawer
sides 3/8" from the back edge.
DRAWER BACKS. Now cut the drawer
backs (O and P) from 1/2" stock to fit
between the dadoes in the sides and wide
enough to rest on top of the drawer bottoms
(right at the top of the grooves).
Now clamp the drawer together and drill
countersunk screw holes through the sides
and into the front and back, see Fig. 16.
DRAWER BOTTOMS. Temporarily screw
the drawer together, and measure and cut
eight drawer bottoms (Q) from 1/4" Masonite
to fit in the grooves and under the back.
Now assemble each drawer with glue and
screws. Then slide in the bottom, and nail
it to the drawer back.
When the drawer is dry, round over the
inside top edges. Then mount a pull on the
front of each drawer, see Fig. 16.

1!/4

MASONITE
RUNNER
SIDE

The chips and sawdust that fall through

the opening in the top of the cabinet are
caught in a plastic trash bag. To hold the
bag (and make it easier to pull out for emptying), I built a chip catcher frame.
FRAME. Start by cutting the front/back
pieces (R) from 4/4 stock to a width of 2" and
a length of 103/8", see Fig. 19. Then cut two
sides (S) 2" wide and 181/8" long.
Now cut rabbets on the front and back
pieces, and screw the frame together, see
Fig. 20.
KEEPER GROOVE. The trash bag is held
to the frame with a large rubber band or
bungee tie-down cord that fits in a cove
1998, August Home Publishing Co.

around the frame. To cut the cove, use a

1/2" core box bit on the router table and rout
all four sides of the frame, see Fig. 21.
RUNNERS. The frame is held in the cabinet with 1/4" Masonite runners (T) that ride
on top of a couple cleats, refer to Fig. 25.
Screw the runners down to the top edge of
the frame so the inside edge is flush with
the inside of the frame, see Figs. 22 and
23.
CLEATS. Next, cut two cleats (U) from
4/4 stock to a width of 11/4" and a length of
21". To help guide the frame into place,
chamfer the top front corner of the cleats,
see Cleat Detail in Fig. 25.
Now screw the cleats to the dividers 21/4"
from the front of the cabinet and down from
the top, see Figs. 24 and 27.

FIGURE 24

FIGURE 25

CHIP
CATCHER
CLEATS

CROSS SECTION
#8 x 1!/2 Fh
WOODSCREW

TOP

%/16
U
CLEAT

CLEAT
DETAIL
CHAMFER

BUNGEE
CORD

1!/4

TRASH
BAG

!#/16

21

!/8 GROOVE,
!/4 DEEP
CENTERED ON
THICKNESS
OF STOCK

!/4 LONG STUB TENON

CUT TO FIT GROOVE

DOOR
After I was sure the chip catcher would
slide easily into the opening, I began work
on the door that covers the chip catcher
opening. The door is made with a pegboard
panel that provides additional space to hang
tools and saw blades.
STILES AND RAILS. I built the door using
stub tenon and groove joinery (see
Woodsmith No. 29 for more on making this
joint). First, cut the stiles (V) from 1/2" stock
to a width of 11/4" and 1/8" less in length than
the height of the opening, see Fig. 26. Then
measure the width of the opening and cut
the rails (W) to length, subtracting the
width of both stiles and a 1/16" gap on both
sides of the door, and adding an allowance
for the 1/4"-long stub tenons on each end.
(In my case, this made the rails 107/8" long.)
GROOVES AND TENONS. Now cut 1/8"-wide
grooves (to accept the 1/8" pegboard panel)
on the inside edge of each stile and rail.
Then cut stub tenons on the ends of the
rails to match the grooves.
PEGBOARD PANEL. After the tenons are
cut, dry assemble the frame, and cut the
pegboard panel (X) to size to fit in the
grooves, see Fig. 26. Then glue the frame
together with the panel in the grooves.
HINGE MORTISES. Once the door is glued
together, cut 2"-long hinge mortises in the
left stile, see Fig. 26. (Note: Mortise to a
depth slightly less than the thickness of
the hinge knuckle.) Then mount the hinges
in the mortises, and mount the door to the
inside of the opening so that the face sets
back 11/4" from the front edge of the cabinet, see Fig. 27.
HANDLE AND CATCH. To complete the door
add a handle (pull), and mount a magnetic
catch to the divider and catch plate on the
back of the door, see Fig. 27.
CASTER PADS. To hold casters to the bottom of the cabinet, I glued caster pads (Y)
on each of the corners. Then I screwed the
casters to the pads, see Fig. 28.
FINISHING. I finished the cabinet with
three coats of Deft Clear Wood Finish, and
then screwed the saw to the top with lag
screws and Masonite spacers, see Fig. 29.

Plans

NOW

FIGURE 26

10&/8
10#/8
W RAIL

1!/4
2

RAIL

5
DRILL HOLES
TO MATCH
HANDLE

X
DOOR PANEL
!/8 PEGBOARD

V
STILE

15#/16

17#/8
V

10&/8

1!/4

STILE

MORTISE
SLIGHTLY
LESS THAN
THICKNESS
OF HINGE
KNUCKLE

W
1!/4

FIGURE 27

CHIP
CATCHER
CLEAT

TOP VIEW

MAGNETIC
CATCH

DOOR

CATCH PLATE
LEFT
DIVIDER

2 BUTT
HINGE

2!/4

RIGHT
DIVIDER

CENTER DOOR
HANDLE ON STILE

1!/4

TRIM STRIP

FIGURE 28
!/4 x 1!/2
LAG SCREW

FIGURE 29
!/4 x 1
LAG SCREW

WASHER

WASHER
TABLE SAW
MOUNTING
FLANGE

!/4 x 1
SQUARE
MASONITE
SPACER
!/2

!/2

4
5

page 6

CASTER
Y PAD
#/4 PLYWOOD

CHIP
CATCHER

CLEAT

1998, August Home Publishing Co.

Outfeed Table
After building the table saw cabinet, I
decided to add an outfeed table. I wanted
this table to be permanently attached to
the saw (not a separate unit that has to be
set up each time you use it - like a roller
stand).
I also wanted to be able to fold the outfeed table down so the saw could be rolled
against a wall. This design does just that.
(And it can be built to fit any saw, with or
without the cabinet.)
ARMS
The outfeed table is supported by two arms
(A) that are attached to the extension wings
of the table saw, see Fig. 1. Begin by cutting these arms from 4/4 stock (13/16" actual thickness) to a width of 31/2" and a length
of 40".
Note: This length assumes the table saw
top is 27" deep - thats typical for most 10"
Sears and Delta/Rockwell saws - so the
arms project 13" behind the saw.
LAG SCREW SLOT. The outfeed table is
held to the arms and pivots to the down
position on two lag screws. These screws
slide in 1/4"-wide slots routed into the arms.
To make these slots, first drill two 1/4"-dia.
end holes centered on the width of each
arm and 81/2" apart, see Fig. 1. Now clean
out the area between the holes with a 1/4"
straight bit on the router table (or with a
hand-held router and edge guide). Rout in
a series of passes increasing the depth until
the bit cuts through the workpiece.
NOTCH FOR RAIL. After the slot is routed,
cut a notch in the right arm to fit around
the saws rear rip fence rail, see Fig. 1. (I
cut a 2"-deep by 21/4"-wide notch. This fits
around the rails on most saws.)
TRIM OFF CORNERS. Next, to break the
sharp corners, I trimmed a 45 angle off
the bottom corners of the arms and routed a 1/8" chamfer on the outside edges, see
Bolt Detail in Fig. 1.
ATTACHING THE ARMS. The arms are bolted to the outside edges of the saw extension wings (or the table itself if it doesnt
have extensions), see Bolt Detail in Fig. 1.
(Note: If the table top or extensions dont
have holes in the edges, drill two 1/4"-dia.
holes near each end.)
Then to locate the bolt holes in the arms,
clamp the arms to the edge of the table
with the top edge of the arm aligned flush
with the table saw top. Reach under the
table and mark through the bolt holes.
Once the holes are marked, remove the
arms from the saw, and drill a 5/16"-dia.
(oversized) hole at each mark. Then bolt

Plans

NOW

the arms to the saw with 1/4" bolts, see

Detail in Fig. 1. (The holes are drilled oversize to allow for final adjustment.)
THE TABLE
After the arms are securely mounted, work
can begin on the outfeed table. The table
is made out of a piece of 3/4" plywood fastened to the top of a support frame, see
Fig. 2.
PLYWOOD TOP. To determine the width of
the plywood top (B), measure the distance
between the arms, and cut the top about
1/16" less than this measurement so it wont
bind between the arms, see Fig. 1. Then
FIGURE 1
10#/4

40

2!/4

1#/4
3!/2
1#/4

8!/2

RIP FENCE
RAIL

cut it to a length of 24". (Note grain direction in Fig. 2.)

MITER GAUGE SLOTS. Since the saws
miter gauge often gets pushed beyond the
back of the saw, miter gauge slots have to
be cut into the outfeed table. To determine
the location of these slots, I clamped the
plywood top into place between the arms.
Then I transferred the location of the
slots to the plywood and routed the slots
slightly wider than the existing saw slots.
FRAME SIDES. Next, the support frame
can be built. Start by cutting two frame
sides (C) to a width of 11/2" and to the same
length as the plywood top (24").

NOTE:
NOTCH ONLY ONE ARM
FOR REAR RIP FENCE RAIL

!/4
WIDE
SLOT

BOLT DETAIL
ALIGN ARM FLUSH WITH
TOP OF TABLE SAW

!/4 x 1!/2
BOLT
PLYWOOD TOP EQUALS !/16 LESS
THAN DISTANCE BETWEEN ARMS

page 7

1!/4

%/16
DIA.
HOLE

!/8
CHAMFER

1998, August Home Publishing Co.

Now clamp these pieces under the plywood top flush with the edges, and drill
counterbored screw holes, see Fig. 3.
STRETCHERS. After the top is screwed
down to the sides, measure the distance
between the sides. In my case this was
385/16". Then cut two stretchers (D) to this
length.
Now screw one stretcher under the far
end of the table and another 101/2" from the
near end, see Fig. 2. Finally, drill and screw
through the side frames into the ends of
the stretchers and plug all the screw holes,
see Fig. 3.
SUPPORT BLOCKS. To add a little more
strength to the pivot point on the arms, I
glued a support block (E) to the front (open)
end of each arm and rounded over the bottom to a 1/2" radius, see Detail in Fig. 2.

FIGURE 2

CHAMFER OUTSIDE
EDGES !/8

24

SCREW
HOLE
PLUGS

NOTCH IS CUT SO
TABLE SAW GUARD
CAN BE TIPPED TO
A FULL 45

Plans

NOW

#/4

#8 x 1!/4
WOODSCREWS

DETAIL

1!/2

SUPPORT
BLOCK
E
E

FIGURE 4

#/8

10!/2
#/16 DEEP

1!/2

!/2
RADIUS

1!/2

CUT ALL FRAME PIECES

FROM 4/4 STOCK

NOTE: COUNTERBORE
SCREW HOLES #/16 DEEP

FIGURE 5

CROSS SECTION

CUT GLIDE
RAILS FROM
4/4 STOCK
TABLE TOP
AND ARM
SHOULD
BE FLUSH

2!/4

!/2

#8 x 1!/4
WOODSCREW
F

%/8

12

!/2

1!/4
2!/4

GLIDE
RAIL
FIGURE 6

FIGURE 7

CROSS SECTION

CLAMP FRONT EDGE

OF OUTFEED TABLE
FLUSH WITH NOTCH

USE !/4 BRAD POINT

BIT TO MARK CENTER
OF HOLE

ASSEMBLY
The table is connected to the arms with lag
screws used as pivot pins. To locate them,
clamp the table in place so the front edge
is aligned with the notch in the right arm,
see Fig. 6. Then drill through the front end
of the slot into the frame side in two steps.
First, use a 1/4" brad point bit in the 1/4"
slot to drill in just enough to make a centering hole, see Step 1 in Fig. 7. Then drill
a pilot hole with a 3/16" bit, see Step 2.
Finally, screw in a 1/4" x 2" lag screw with
a washer (but not too tight), see Step 3.
STOP PIN. The last step is to prevent the
outfeed table from sliding out of position.
Clamp the table into place with the lag
screw tight against the front end of the
slot. Then drill a 1/4"-dia. hole up from the
bottom through the glide rail and 3/8" into
each of the frame sides, see Fig. 8.
Then lift up the table and glue a 1/2"-long
dowel into the hole in the frame side, see
Detail in Fig. 8.
Now the table is ready to use. To put it
into the down position, lift up slightly
(enough to lift the pin out of the hole), slide
the table forward, and pivot it down.

#/8

STRETCHER
D

GLIDE RAILS
To support the table, I added glide rails
(F) to the arms (A). To determine the width
of these glide rails, clamp the table between
the arms so the top is flush with the top
edge of the arms. Then measure the distance from the bottom of the frame side
(C) to the bottom of the arm, see Fig. 4.
Now cut the glide rails to a length of 12" and
mount them to the arms, see Fig. 5.
GUARD NOTCH. You will have to cut out a
notch in the front of the table for the safety guard. The notch has to be wide enough
so the guard can tip to a full 45. For a
Sears saw this means a notch about 21/4"
wide and 31/2" deep, see Fig. 2.
CHAMFER EDGES. After the notch is cut,
rout a 1/8" chamfer around all the outside
edges of the table top and frame.

FIGURE 3
CROSS SECTION

DRILL A #/16 PILOT HOLE,

2 DEEP CENTERED ON
FIRST HOLE

3
NOTE:
DONT
OVERTIGHTEN
LAG SCREWS

DRILL INTO FRAME SIDE

WITH BIT CENTERED AGAINST
END OF SLOT
FIGURE 8

!/4 x 2
LAG SCREW

CLAMP TABLE
TO GLIDE RAIL

CROSS SECTION
STOP PIN DETAIL

LIFT UP

STOP PIN

PULL OUT
1

STOP PIN
(!/4 DOWEL)

!/ 2
!/4
HOLE
CENTERED
ON GLIDE
RAIL

!/8
STOP PIN
HOLE

page 8

STOP PIN
HOLE

SLIGHTLY
CHAMFER
BOTTOM

1998, August Home Publishing Co.